Addressed to all sides of the US open-wheel racing divide - from Tony George, Kevin Kalkhoven, Paul Gentilozzi and Gerry Forsythe to the teams, manufacturers, constructors and suppliers, as well as circuits and media - this is Jim's letter printed in its entirety......
"As a fan of American open-wheel racing, I have to say that enough is enough. Both sides of the divide have worked so hard to drive the sport that I love so far into the dirt to make it almost unrecognisable in regards to what it once was. People I know who were once true fans of open-wheel racing have either left for the greener pastures of NASCAR, or no longer watch or care about racing at all. This is mostly because both series fail to hold a candle to CART in its heyday.
"CART became my favourite series because, in my opinion, it was really the greatest driver's championship in the world. I know there are/were many who were also of that same opinion.
"I started out as a drag racing fan, attending races at Irwindale Raceway, but loved to take in everything: sprint cars at Ascot Park, local hardtops at Speedway 605, NASCAR at Riverside. I have camped out on many occasions in turn four at Ontario Motor Speedway to watch both Champcars and NASCAR, and have even done so at Fontana. I have gone out to support Vintage Club Racing and I have stood at the top of Laguna Seca to watch Champcars plunge through the Corkscrew. I have even dragged myself out of bed at 4am to cheer on Eddie Cheever, Michael Andretti and Scott Speed as they raced against some of the best drivers and teams in the world. I have been to the Test In The West at Fontana and Spring Training at Laguna Seca. I attend open testing at Fontana when Champcar comes around. Each April, I can be found at various vantage points around Long Beach. My point here is this: one, I've been around for quite awhile, and I'm not a Johnny-come-lately to motorsports, and two, even though I love a wide variety of racing, nothing captured my heart and imagination like CART.
"Tell me, what was there not to love about a series that included superspeedways, short ovals (not to mention a tri-oval and even a 'roval'), natural road courses and street circuits? There were several different chassis and several different engines. It was the most unique series in the world and, by the account of many, the greatest series in the world. A series so great, that the reigning world champion left F1 to run CART rather than defend his title. Additionally, CART was a series that drew drivers from all over the world, and there were still plenty of Americans running the series.
"I realise that CART had its problems. The original concept was to mimic what other pro sports were doing, where the teams would run the sport. It was an attempt to save the sport from USAC, and rightly so. But, in other pro sports, the big teams in big markets have to look out for the interests of small teams in smaller markets. The CART board had some members who were self-serving individuals who only wanted to 'dominate' instead of looking after the little guys and really nurturing and growing the sport. You know who you are. If you don't know who you are, call up Dale Coyne. I'm sure he would be glad to explain it to you. But none of this is news to any of you. You already know all of this. I am rehashing this merely to make a later point.
"Since the split, both sides have worked tirelessly to take something really great and reduce it to near ashes. Both sides have a complete disregard for the people that are supposed to matter: the FANS! Tony George, I once read a quote by you where you stated that "the people I talk to don't care about street racing. I'm sure that was true if the people that you were talking to were USAC officials. The fans that I have spoken to are still mourning the day you announced the IRL (I have spoken to many fans who will not watch or have anything to do with the IRL on principle alone). Since then, the IRL has gone from horrible to merely being bad, but only after abandoning everything that the IRL set out to do in its original mission statement and now resembles 'CART lite'. CART has gone from great to lame. All of this is at the expense of those who buy the tickets. Both sides have created something so far removed from what the fans really crave, it's a wonder anyone shows up at all. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, listen to what I am saying. I am begging you to create something brilliant and to stop wallowing in mediocrity.
"What do the fans really want? One series. One really great series. This is not something I am just making up. I have spoken to many fans, read message boards and blogs, and have attended fan forums. This is not just the wish of the fans. I have spoken to many journalists, drivers and team owners. Even Champcar ownership has lamented that there are two series. How is it possible that the fans, the journalists, the drivers, and the team and series ownership, the manufacturers and sponsors all want the same thing, but no one is able to make it happen? In a free market economy, when there is a need, someone jumps in to fill that need and is generally successful. This mess makes absolutely no sense. Everyone wants the same thing, and yet, for some bizarre reason, we keep doing the opposite. Isn't that one definition of insanity? To keep doing the same thing and expect different results?
"So, here is what I am proposing: either the series owners make it happen by 2009, or the team owners form CART II. Someone has to save this mess. CART was originally formed to save the sport from USAC. It needs saving again. It could work this time, because now 20/20 hindsight exists. CART would not be destined to make the same mistakes. Look out for the little guys. Limit testing. Allow SOME development. Invite the manufacturers back. Invite the constructors back. Don't let them (manufacturers, constructors) give parts to some teams and not others. Keep costs in check. Restore the Indy 500 to greatness. Jeez, you're all smart guys, figure it out.
